Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill Approved

The Union Cabinet of India on 5 October 2010 approved the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2010. The objective of the Bill is to set up a system in place to deal with the complaints against the judges of the High Courts and Supreme Court and to create transparency within the Judiciary.

The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill fixes Judicial standards and makes judges responsible for their misbehavior or incapacity. The Bill also makes it mandatory for the judges of the High Courts and Supreme Court to declare their personal assets and liabilities.
The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill replaced the Judges (Inquiry Act) 1968, which had all the features except the provision that the judges have to declare their assets. The  Judicial and Standards Bill sets up a five-member oversight committee to lodge the complaints made by the public against the corrupt judges, including the Chief Justice of India and Chief Justices of the High Courts.

The five-member oversight committee is to be headed by a retired Chief Justice of India appointed by the President, and have a serving judge of the Supreme Court and a serving high court judge, both nominated by the Chief Justice of India, Attorney General, and an eminent person nominated by the President.